Track rehabilitation machine

Abstract

A track rehabilitation machine comprises an elongated machine frame supported on the track by undercarriages for movement in an operating direction, the machine frame having two ends. Mounted on the machine frame are a vertically adjustable endless ballast excavating chain for excavating dirty ballast whereon the track is supported, a first conveyor band unit for conveying the excavated dirty ballast from the ballast excavating chain to a ballast transfer station at one machine frame end, a second conveyor band unit for conveying clean ballast from a ballast receiving station at the one machine end to a ballast discharge station arranged rearwardly of the ballast excavating chain, a further ballast transfer station and a further ballast receiving station at the other machine frame end, and further conveyor band units cooperating with the further ballast transfer and receiving stations for respectively conveying ballast to and from a ballast screening car selectively coupled to a respective one of the machine frame ends.

What is claimed is:  
     
       1. A track bed rehabilitation machine comprising an elongated machine frame supported on the track by undercarriages for movement in an operating direction, the machine frame having two ends, and mounted on the machine frame 
       (a) a vertically adjustable endless ballast excavating chain for excavating dirty ballast whereon the track is supported,  
       (b) a first conveyor band unit for conveying the excavated dirty ballast from the ballast excavating chain to a ballast tranoter station at one machine frame end,  
       (c) a second conveyor band unit for conveying clean ballast from a ballast receiving station at the one machine end to a ballast discharge station arranged rearwardly of the ballast excavating chain and discharging the clean ballast onto the track bed,  
       (d) a further ballast transfer station and a further ballast receiving station at the other machine frame end, and  
       (e) a ballast screening car selectively coupled to a respective one of the machine frame ends, and  
       (f) further conveyor band units cooperating with the further ballast transfer and receiving stations for respectively conveying ballast to and from the ballast screening car selectively coupled to a respective one of the machine frame ends.  
     
     
       2. The track bed rehabilitation machine of  claim 1 , wherein each ballast transfer station at each machine frame end is positioned above the ballast receiving station. 
     
     
       3. The track bed rehabilitation machine of  claim 1 , wherein a vertical distance of the ballast transfer station and the track and of the ballast receiving station and the track is the same at each machine frame end.